MANHATTAN, Kan. | The last time the Florida A&M men's basketball team took the court, and they were playing their final game as a member of the MEAC. Tomorrow night they begin the journey to prepare for the SWAC with a game at Kansas State.
"Anytime you begin a new season, it's an extremely exciting time," said head coach Robert McCullum. "It's an opportunity for us to find out where we are and how we match up and what areas we need to get better in.
"Also, it's our first season in the SWAC, so in addition to representing Florida A&M, we want to represent the SWAC.
"We have a stiff challenge in K-State as they are year in and year out one of the best defensive teams in the country. We're anxious to see our guys come out and compete."
Where you can watch
Watch: BIG 12 Now on ESPN+
Coaches in the game
Robert McCullum
Career Record: 125-192
FAMU Record, Conference Record: 41-71, 33-27
Bruce Weber
Career Record: 483-285
KSU Record: 170-130
The Returners
The Rattlers return 13 players from the 2020-21 team that finished with an 8-12 overall record and a 7-5 conference record. The big news for the Rattlers is that all five starters return, including BOXTOROW All-American MJ Randolph.
MJ Randolph
Randolph was the Rattlers' main offensive threat in the 2020-21 season as he led the Rattlers in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game. Randolph led the Rattlers in scoring in ten of the 20 games. Randolph contributed to the team in other ways as he led the team in assists and finished second in rebounds. Randolph was named to the Athlon Sports Preseason All-SWAC First Team and the All-SWAC Preseason Second Team. Randolph has scored at least 20 points eight different times.
Jalen Speer
Jalen Speer enters his second year after having a phenomenal freshman campaign. Speer finished second in scoring, averaging 11.3 points per game, and led the Rattlers in scoring in five games. Jalen was named to the All-MEAC Freshman Team.
DJ Jones
The Rattlers' most consistent defender returns after leading the Rattlers with 32 blocks and finished third in rebounding, averaging 5.2 rebounds per game. During DJ's tenure with the Rattlers, he has led the team in blocked shots 44 different times.
Kameron Reaves
Kameron is the longest-tenured Rattler alongside Bryce Moragne and DJ Jones. Reaves finished fifth on the team averaging 7.7 points per game and third in assists averaging 1.7. During Reaves time in Tallahassee, he led the Rattlers in assists 19 different times, scoring in double-digits 20.
Bryce Moragne
Bryce joins Reaves and Jones in being the longest-tenured Rattler as they came joined the team in 2017. Moragne led the Rattlers in rebounding, averaging 7.3 rebounds per game while finishing fourth in points with 8.5.
New Rattlers
Florida A&M added seven newcomers to the team this off-season, including three transfers. The big-name transfer for the Rattlers was Dimingus Stevens, a transfer guard from Seton Hall. The Rattlers also added some size in transfers Chase Barrs and Legend Stamps. Barrs, a 6-9 junior forward, comes to us from Western Michigan. Stamps, a 6-9 junior center, comes to us from San Diego City College.
The Rattlers also added four freshmen from Florida - guard Caleb Muller, forward Saiyd Burnside, guard Jordan Jackson, and guard Richard Mathews.
Scouting Kansas State
• The Wildcats return four starters from last season, including the top two scorers in Nijel Pack and Mike McGuirl
• The Wildcats added three impact transfers in Mark Smith (transfer from Mizzou), Ismael Massoud (transfer from Wake Forest), and Marquis Nowell (transfer from Arkansas-Little Rock)
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